Older camera refurbs - any experiences?

[LongQ]

So here I am browsing around on ebay looking for cheap FD lenses to supplement my old Canon AE1 and A1 (actually looking for a reaosnably priced Canon 2x multiplier to start with) and thought I would try a quick experiment with my recently acquired (cheap) Canon zoom and an old Tamron 2x multiplier that I have never been happy with.

Took the shot and then removed the lens to stash the multiplier away again and there a sort of lump of black stuff drops off. Looking more carefully - the mirror cushioning/light exclusion foam at the top of the lens apperture has turned to goo and is crumbling away! Must've been something in the air at Silverstone!

Anyway, it's fair to say that it is probably not senesible to use it as it is. So is it worth trying to get the foam replaced? Indeed is it possible any more?

Anyone got any experience of having older kit serviced? Or has anyone else still got a Canon AE1 ffrom the late 70's? If so, is it showing the same problem?

In many ways it might be better simply to change to a replacement body - the thing is 30 years old after all. But then most of the bodies are likely to be a similar age - which probably means they will be suffering or about to suffer the same fate. In fact I had better check the A1 as well. (A quick look suggests that is not exhibiting the same problem - yet.)


Oh the joys of running a 'classic'! ;)

[Bee_Jay]

My AE1 and A1 are both fine - don't seem to be crumbling. (had to go and dig them out the loft though... ;-) )

To be honest though, I have an awful feeling that if it did poke the foam a bit it would fall apart...

The foam on my IX7 was crumbling before I threw it in the skip last year, and that was a lot younger.

I am sure that if you search on camera repairs on here, you will find a few places worth trying.

Joe.

[LongQ]

Bee_Jay said:

I am sure that if you search on camera repairs on here, you will find a few places worth trying. Joe.

Thanks for the input. My AE1 looked fine until I inadvertently nudged the foam as I removed the lens.

The A1 is certainly not at the same stage.

I have a similar situation with an old real to reel Philips tape recorder. The rubber bands and drive wheels reverted to a gooey mess. Hygroscopic apparently, they all did it after about 20 years. No spares around these days - presumably they all went the same way. It's a shame because the unit was pretty good and there are some tapes I would like to transfer that don't come over well (or at all in some cases) on other kit I have borrowed.

I have found the web site of one of the official repair centres fairly near me and fired off a question to the facility on their web site. No reply yet. It's amazing how often such messages seem to disappear into the ether. Oh well, maybe a phone call next week.

Chances are it is beyond economic repair and cheaper to replace via ebay - but then not much point of they are all going that way. I can't see the current digital generation being viable in 30 years from now so I guess that SLR photography gets more expensive with savings in film porcessing costs (? are there any in reality?) being offset by shorter hardware life.

Maybe that's a debate for another thread ...